Evolution of Car Security Systems

Car thieves have existed for as long as cars have.

Unfortunately, this underhanded way of making money is the simple result of envy that has persisted throughout the decades.

For you to protect your hard-earned assets, car security is a never-ending struggle. 

You have to constantly keep up with new tactics thieves are using or you’ll become a victim yourself.

Car security throughout the decades has come a long way and goes to show that manufacturers are well aware of the value you place on your vehicle and the goods inside. 

Car security systems serve to make your life easier by protecting what you love.

Of course, not everyone is looking to compromise your car. But it can’t hurt to have systems in place to dissuade thieves and even recover your vehicle in the case that it’s been stolen.

Before it ends up like this:

Stolen vehicle

Early Car Security

Car security features were released shortly after cars hit the road. 

The Leach-Biltwell Motor Company was the first to launch their “anti-theft” device: a removable steering wheel that kept would-be thieves from navigating the vehicle.

Cars equipped with this device joined the company’s line of luxury automobiles in the 1920s.

Unfortunately, it was soon obvious that drivers didn’t want to remove their steering wheels and take them into a store.

And it wasn’t long until another car company, Scripps-Booth, sold a torpedo roadster that used door locks.

Both of these were simple devices designed to prevent theft by sheer inconvenience.

Neither of these devices was foolproof, but they dissuaded would-be thieves and made other vehicles more appealing targets.

These innovations were game-changing, but still, many car companies were slow to adopt them.

Car locks is a security feature that remains standard today. While they were first introduced in the 20s, they required separate keys for the lock and ignition system.

It wasn’t until the 60s that a single key could be used for both.

It was clear that cars needed better protection even if a thief managed to get inside and a few years later, car alarms hit the market.

Car Theft Facts

The 1950s

Like locks, car alarms had a scattered start. It wasn’t until they were mass-produced in the 1950s that they took off.

These alarms were triggered when a car door opened while the master switch had been disabled.

Today, car alarms are much more sophisticated, with technology either built into the vehicle or sold aftermarket.

The difference is a manufacturer builds alarms into the key cylinder while you hide aftermarket alarms in the vehicle.

Even so, both have the same basic function.

As car alarms have grown in popularity, an unintentional side effect has grown—many of us have grown accustomed to ignoring them. 

It isn’t uncommon for one to accidentally activate, and passersby simply assume the car’s owner will soon be along to turn it off.

Car alarms are wonderful innovations, but they aren’t foolproof. Smarter thieves even trigger them on purpose to mask the sound of windows shattering.

Fact about Car Alarms

More security measures were necessary. That’s why you can now find the following:

Steering Wheel Locks

While modern vehicles no longer have removable steering wheels as a form of theft prevention, the first guys had it right to draw their attention to the part of the car that allowed the driver to navigate.

Steering wheel locks prevent your car’s wheels from rotating, effectively keeping your vehicle from being steered. They’re great at protecting your vehicle but as you can tell, they are big and bulky.

You’d be hard-pressed to find one at your nearest car accessories store because they’ve fallen out of fashion.

That said, steering wheel locks are still an effective visual deterrent.

Fact about Steering Wheel Locks

Immobiliser

Immobilisers prevent your engine from activating unless you use the correct key.

This also prevents your car from being hot-wired because, without a key, it won’t start. The downside to using an immobiliser is the length and the cost of installation. 

Unless you like being shocked, you need to hire an auto-electrician.

The fact that a professional is necessary for installation bumps up the price of immobilisers, as services alone average anywhere from $100 and $250. That’s not even including the immobiliser, which could be up to $250.

To install an immobiliser in your car, you could end up spending anywhere from $200–$500.

Fact about Immobiliser

Key Protectors

Key protectors are a direct response to a change in theft technology.

Thieves can now copy your wireless key fob and essentially, copy your key to gain full access to your car.

Key protectors prevent this by blocking your key signal until the very moment you’ve entered your vehicle.

How to protect your vehicle key

Tire Clamps

A tire clamp locks down onto your wheel to prevent movement.

While it is an effective way to deter thieves, it is generally used for longer periods of storage rather than everyday security because it can be inconvenient to put on and take off.

You’ll often see tire clamps being used for extreme parking violations.

A tire clamp does what it says, clamps down onto your wheel, locking it in place.

If forcibly removed, the tire, as well as the wheel housing will be damaged.

Facts about Tire clamp

GPS Tracking

If you want a quick recovery of your vehicle and your contents, a GPS tracker is your best bet.

These devices work by tracking your vehicle’s location and easily displaying that information so you can get your car back.

If you’re interested in a GPS tracker, there are plenty to choose from.

You can choose the best one for your situation by looking at our tracker comparison guide.

Conclusion

Car security is a never-ending battle.

To ensure that your car is as safe as possible, you’re going to have to consider taking some proactive steps to beef up your protection.

Anyone trying to break into your car is going to use some effort.

So how much effort are you using to stop them?

Join our email list below if you want some tips on how you can stay ahead of the game when it comes to keeping your vehicle safe.

Or click the link below to check out Solid GPS trackers, so you can recover your asset if it’s ever stolen.

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